COMMON CORE: Challenges to Common Core grow. Is Illinois really this silent?

George N. Schmidt - November 13, 2013

The closer you look, the worse it is. Common Core is being challenged in almost every one of the fifty states, and not a day goes by when there is not another report in the corporate press about these challenges. Here is what came in on November 12, 2013.

FIRST, FROM NEW YORK, FROM DIANE RAVITCH'S BLOG...

Commissioner of Education John King is conducting a series of hearings around the state on the subject of the Common Core and the testing.

Each meeting has been a disaster.

This evening, a large number of parents and teachers crowded into a high school auditorium on Long Island to speak out against the state's heavy-handed imposition of the new tests and standards.

The chancellor of the State Board of Regents Merryl Tisch assured the angry crowd that their message was heard.

But Commissioner King made clear there would be no backing down from the state's commitment to the standards or the testing, despite the protests.

The speakers at Ward Melville did not pull their punches.

From school principals to teachers to parents, they blasted the state for overreliance on testing, hasty implementation of curriculums and resulting stress on educators and students, drawing cheers and applause from the standing-room-only crowd in the auditorium. The event was live-streamed into the cafeteria.

Beth Dimino, a science teacher in the Comsewogue district, called for King's resignation and cautioned Flanagan that he stands to lose support from parents if he continues to back the current structure.

"We are abusing children here in the State of New York," Dimino said.

Bill Connors, a member of the Three Village board of education, said while he supports the philosophy of Common Core, "changes must be made."

"We must slow down so teachers can be properly trained," Connors said. "There needs to be a pullback on the emphasis of high-stakes testing."

King, in a brief availability with reporters before the forum began, said, "Now is not the moment for a delay."

MORE TO COME FROM ELSEWHERE LATER TODAY (NOVEMBER 13, 2013) AND REGULARLY IN THE FUTURE...

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